WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22 2017 SPORT 45 Tourists’ batting depth under the microscope RUSSELL GOULD Malan, managed to get hun- counters. Aussie Test great The numbers racked up in say something about it, to rector of cricket Andrew) dreds in the warm-up game in Matthew Hayden said he the two games played against someone high up at Cricket Strauss and I will mention it to EVEN England coach Trevor Townsville last week. didn’t even know “who half inexperienced opposition, with Australia, even though he Pat Howard (CA high per- Bayliss thought they were soft The pair, who along with these guys are”. 223 runs to Stoneman, 177 to knows what the answer would formance manager) when I see runs. new England No.3 James They not only needed time Malan, and even 88 to Vince, be. him too.” Two of the three biggest Vince, have not played any of in the middle pre-Test, but big makes it look like the tourists “I know when Australia go “It’s not going to be perfect question marks around his side their 15 combined Tests out- numbers to boost their confi- found touch. But Bayliss wasn’t to England there are similar and nothing compares with the going in to the first Test, open- side of the UK, landed in Aus- dence ahead of a Gabba show- falling for that. questions asked, that’s the way first Test of an Ashes away in er Mark Stoneman and mid- tralia with questionable form down with Starc, Hazlewood, He knows the lead-in has it is,” he said. “I’ve already Brisbane, where Australia dle-order batsman Dawid in their limited top-level en- Cummins and Lyon. been soft, and he might even mentioned it to (England’s di- haven’t lost for 30-odd years.” Australian After years of commitment, Cameron Bancroft will finally pace attack make his Test match debut against England questioned at the Gabba. The West Bancroft’s Australian batsman has JORDAN DAVIES played for Australia A in the past ALTHOUGH Graeme Swann Picture: RYAN PIERSE was a canny spinner he is no stranger to the art of fast bowl- ing. hard road He was on the receiving end of Mitchell Johnson’s sudden burst of firepower during the last Ashes Down Under after all when the twirler retired mid-series as England were pumped 5-0. So, England fans who have to the a dreaded feeling of history re- peating might like to hear what he has to say about the current crop of Aussie quicks, led by Mitchell Starc. Swann told said their bowl- ing prowess had been over- hyped leading up to the first top Test in Brisbane. “Australia have lost their best fast bowler in James Pat- tinson,” Swann said. “Mitchell Starc can get it through all right but he’s not as quick as Mitchell Johnson used to be. He is single-minded, a bit “Josh Hazlewood is not He is single-minded, a bit quick. Pat Cummins doesn’t like a dog on a bone. stay fit for more than two or like a dog on a bone. three games. “He’sHe’s prettypretty ferociousferocious “People are more worried “ about Australia’s bowlers than aroundaround whatwhat hehe wants.”wants.” the England team are. They’re thinking ‘hallelujah’ James TROYTROY COOLEYCOOLEY Pattinson is injured — it’s a massive boost for England.” AUSTRALIANAUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT COACHCOACH However, Swann still ac- cepts that England captain Joe Root has a vital role in prepar- BEN HORNE faux baggy green on his first “He didn’t get one of the ition in cricket that no one en- “I just wanted it so badly. I ing his men before battle. Australia A tour in 2015, he under 19s spots we had in the joys, so Bancroft made it his wanted it so badly and I wasn’t Firstly, tell them to be less LONG before he flew to Bris- was so proud he wore it out in national performance program mission to turn himself into patient enough,” Bancroft said. British, and secondly, help bane to make his Test debut, Chittagong that night. that year, but I can remember the best short leg fielder in the “It took me a little while just them find their “Zen”. Cameron Bancroft made the Tomorrow, Bancroft will him giving me a bloody call world and thrive on the dirty to sit back and kind of go, ‘this Swann says: “There are same journey on a wing and a trade it in for a real one when and saying, ‘G’day, Truck, it’s work. It’s in his DNA. is where I want to go, I’ve just loads of things that could trip prayer. he strolls out to the Gabba, tes- Bangers here. Listen, my aunty For a couple of years, key got to trust it and no matter them up, but the trick for En- Not picked for an Austra- tament to arguably the hardest lives in Brisbane and it’s no figures in Australian cricket when that happens or if that gland is not to think about lian under 19s development working and driven cricketer good in WA weather-wise in had no doubt Bancroft ticked happens, I’ve just got to stay them. squad, the never-say-die teen- in the country. the winter, but would you every box – the only problem relaxed and enjoy’. “It’s a very English way of ager from Perth asked the The man who refused to mind if I came up for a few was he wasn’t scoring runs. “(The difference this year) is thinking: ‘what’s the one thing coach if he could just turn up turn Bancroft away, Australian weeks and just trained? I won’t By his own admission, Ban- the fact I didn’t really think that will mess this up?’. Why anyway. development coach Troy Coo- bother, I’ll just stay two or croft struggled to deal with that I’d be here. I just went out think that? Bancroft stayed on his ley, knew instantly that there three weeks’. being named to debut on the and tried to make runs for “Like ‘what if there’s a mon- aunty Anita’s couch and was something special about “I said, ‘Bangers, no prob- 2015 tour of Bangladesh, only WA.” soon the day before?’ It’s crazy caught the bus to the national the kid who wouldn’t take no lem’. How can you say no to to have that campaign can- Bancroft has literally talk. performance centre every day, for an answer. that?” celled due to terrorism threats, knocked the door down for his “Everything will go per- willing to do whatever it took “He is single-minded, a bit Bancroft’s reputation pre- and he then slipped down the Test debut with a stunning fectly. That’s what England to one day play Test cricket for like a dog on a bone. He’s pret- cedes him as the man with the queue and out of contention. double hundred against South should be instilling in their Australia. ty ferocious around what he insatiable work ethic. Bancroft said he just lost the Australia and a pair of 50s players. Test cricket is 90 per When he was presented a wants,” said Cooley. Short leg is the fielding pos- mental battle with himself. against the NSW pace attack. cent in the head.” Former English stars rubbish Lyon Gabba wicket will bounce to the beat FROM BACK PAGE and wholeheartedly untrue.” “He can swing the new ball THE Gabba is back to its underwent a complete resur- charge, said the Gabba of old Prior and current captain Lyon said Australia’s cur- in and out, he can seam it, he bouncy, green best despite the facing following Adele’s has bounced back. Root were dropped during the rent pace attack of Mitchell can bowl fast, he can bowl a attempts of Pommy singer knockout concert in March “It’s very similar to the series and coach Andy Flower Starc, Josh Hazlewood and nice bouncer, he can reverse Adele to sabotage Australia’s which chewed up the turf. past,” he said ahead of to- lost his job after the white- Pat Cummins were quicker an old ball,” Lyon said. cricket fortress. Australia has not lost a Test morrow’s first day. “It’ll have a wash. than the nation’s 2013-14 at- “His consistency, the pace Curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr in Brisbane since 1988 and tinge of green which they nor- “If that was the case and I tack led by Johnson and also he bowls at and the way he has prepared a classic Gabba there were concerns over how mally do first day. There will be was scared, why didn’t I go featuring Ryan Harris and controls the game is incred- greentop for the final time their favourite wicket would some sideways movement home?,” Prior told English Peter Siddle. And the offspin- ible. which has England’s suspect recover from a major overhaul. early and some seam and then media. ner rated Hazlewood as the “In my book he’s the No.1 batsmen on notice. However, Mitchell, who will settle down into a pretty good “It’s completely ridiculous best bowler in the world. bowler in the world.” The famed Gabba wicket retire following his 27th Test in batting deck.” V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.